Woodard floating idea of opening LU seasons vs. McNeese

Updated 10:58 am, Wednesday, July 25, 2012

McNeese's coach, Matt Viator and Lamar's coach, Ray Woodard chat before the game at McNeese State College in Lake Charles, Saturday. Tammy McKinley/The Enterprise

McNeese's coach, Matt Viator and Lamar's coach, Ray Woodard chat before the game at McNeese State College in Lake Charles, Saturday. Tammy McKinley/The Enterprise

Photo: TAMMY MCKINLEY

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Lamar's J.J. Hayes catches a touchdown during the first quarter of Lamar's game against McNeese State Saturday at Provost Umphrey Stadium.

Lamar's J.J. Hayes catches a touchdown during the first quarter of Lamar's game against McNeese State Saturday at Provost Umphrey Stadium.

Photo: Matt Billiot

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John Prescott tackles a McNeese State player during Lamar's game Saturday at Provost Umphrey Stadium.

John Prescott tackles a McNeese State player during Lamar's game Saturday at Provost Umphrey Stadium.

Photo: Matt Billiot

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Lamar's J.J. Hayes catches a pass during Lamar's game against McNeese State Saturday at Provost Umphrey Stadium.

Lamar's J.J. Hayes catches a pass during Lamar's game against McNeese State Saturday at Provost Umphrey Stadium.

Photo: Matt Billiot

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Lamar head coach Ray Woodard enters Cowboy Stadium acknowledging Cardinals fans before the start of the Cardinals season opener against McNeese State on Saturday, September 4, 2010
Valentino Mauricio/The Enterprise less

Lamar head coach Ray Woodard enters Cowboy Stadium acknowledging Cardinals fans before the start of the Cardinals season opener against McNeese State on Saturday, September 4, 2010
Valentino Mauricio/The ... more

Photo: Beaumont

Woodard floating idea of opening LU seasons vs. McNeese

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Walking on the turf at McNeese State and seeing a sea of red before a game two years ago has left quite an impression on Ray Woodard.

The Lamar football coach would like to have that experience again.

That's one reason Woodard has floated the idea of opening future seasons against McNeese State instead of playing a non-conference game. McNeese

State coach Matt Viator said he likes the idea but is concerned about the difficulties that come with finding a non-conference opponent for the end of the regular season.

With Lamar already scheduled to open the 2014 season at Texas A&M, the soonest Lamar would look to open a season against McNeese State would be 2015, Woodard said.

For now, Lamar will play the Cowboys as scheduled at the end of each season.

"It's a great way to end the season, to play them the last game," Woodard said. "It would be even more if both of us can get to that game with both of us having a lot on the line to play for. Obviously, neither one of us had that last year."

Lamar lost to McNeese State, 45-17, to close the 2011 season. The Cardinals end this season back in Lake Charles, La. That's where Lamar played its first game back from a two-decade hiatus in 2010 and lost 30-27 in front of 19,235 fans.

"We brought a huge crowd over there," Woodard said. "I think as the rivalry goes on in years and we get to play each other more and more, it will grow. I think I could see something along the lines of when we play each other both places breaking attendance records going back and forth."

Woodard said he was "only thinking out loud with the idea." Viator called it "a good idea."

"He just floated it to me (Monday) night," Viator said. "When you think about it, it would be a great game for both of us. The game we had to open the 2010 season was awesome."

Southland commissioner Tom Burnett said the league would allow the schedule change as long as both schools agree to it, even if the league prefers to play rivalry games at the end of seasons.

"We have a rule in the conference that if schools mutually agree to move a game, then that's fine with us," Burnett said.